Kota Kinabalu: A 26-year-old single mother was fined a total of RM4,000 for having unregistered products and cosmetics without notifications.
Sessions Court Judge Zaini Fishir meted out the sentence to Khairunisa Anastasha Rozlee who pleaded guilty to two charges against her.
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On the first count, Khairunisa was fined RM2,000 in default 30 days’ jail for possessing 16 products which were not registered with the Ministry of Health (MOH), at 2.05pm on Sept 27, 2024 at the Lisa Queen Empire in KK Taipan Jalan Tuaran, near here.
The offence under Regulation 7 (1)(a) of the Control of Drugs and Cosmetic Regulations 1984, carries a jail term of up to three years or a fine of up to RM50,000, or both, on conviction.
On the second count, Khairunisa was fined another RM2,000 or spend 30 days in jail for having 15 types of cosmetics without notifications at the same place and time.
During mitigation, Khairunisa, who was unrepresented, pleaded for leniency, saying she is a single mother who earns an income to support her children, parents and siblings.
She told the court that she was remorseful, that it was her first offence, and that she promised not to repeat it.
Khairunisa also informed that she just got a job and at that time she did not have any savings.
However, Prosecuting Officer Muhammad Nurhalimi Ahmad Azmil, from the Sabah Pharmacy Enforcement Division, urged the court to impose an appropriate sentence on the grounds that a total of 31 types of products were confirmed to be unregistered with the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Division (NPRA).
He submitted that these products were not tested or evaluated by the Drug Control Authority, and therefore the quality and safety of the cosmetic products are questionable, adding that the use of these unregistered products may pose risks of adverse side effects to the general public.
Muhammad told the court that the total value of the seized items amounted to RM11,076.
“In view of the above, for the safety and health of the public, the prosecution requests an appropriate sentence. This is not only to serve as a lesson to Khairunisa but also to act as a deterrent to others who may intend to commit similar offences.”
“The prosecution further requests that the exhibits and seized monies be forfeited to the prosecution for disposal in accordance with Section 13 of the Sales Act 1952 and Section 407A of the Criminal Procedure Code,” said Muhammad.
